Head of Vehicle Engineering

Long Wall; Long Beach (CA); On-site; USD 165,000 - 245,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Heavily employer-subsidized medical, dental, and vision insurance plans

4% 401k match

Paid parental leave

Flexible vacation policy

Job summary

Long Wall in California is looking for a Head of Hardware Development to lead the team responsible for missile defense hardware. This role involves managing engineering delivery, driving technical decisions, and ensuring successful project execution.

The ideal candidate has 8–12 years of experience in hardware design and direct management of engineering teams, with technical expertise in mechanical design and strong analytical skills. A competitive salary package is offered.

Qualifications

• 8–12 years of progressive industry experience in hardware design and development.
• Proven track record taking flight or mission-critical hardware from concept through qualification.
• Direct people-management responsibility for multiple engineers or teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead the multidisciplinary team for missile defense hardware development.
• Own end-to-end engineering delivery of hardware products.
• Define and execute the technical roadmap for the Hardware Development department.
• Drive design reviews and risk-based decision-making for hardware architecture.

Skills

Flight or mission-critical hardware development

Direct management of engineering teams

Mechanical design knowledge

Strong analytical skills

Excellent written and verbal communication

Education

B.S. in Mechanical, Aerospace, or related engineering discipline

Tools

ANSYS

ABAQUS

NASTRAN

NX

CATIA

CREO/Pro-E

Job description

Long Wall Company was created in 2024 to accelerate missile defense technology for the U.S. and our allies. Building on the RS1 and GS0 launch systems, Long Wall develops containerized, mass‑producible missile defense systems and offers rapid, low‑cost flight testing. We believe that the future of global security and stability require defensive technology that is lower cost, higher performing, better tested, and more broadly distributed than is possible today. Join us.

What We Look For

Mission-Driven Problem Solvers. The aerospace frontier demands ingenuity. We want Team members who approach challenges with curiosity, embrace failure as a learning opportunity, and stay focused on delivering the best solution for the mission.

Total Ownership. We seek staff and engineers who take full responsibility for contributing to and delivering flight‑ready work while recognizing that no one succeeds alone. The best engineers, corporate professionals, and technicians make their teammates better. Knowing that complementary skills create force multiplication and drive mission success.

Head of Hardware Development

Description

Long Wall is hiring a Head of Hardware Development to lead the multidisciplinary team responsible for taking missile defense hardware from concept through flight. This leader owns the engineering vision, technical execution, and hiring, across the hardware development disciplines (e.g., structures, fluid systems, mechanisms), and coaches a team of engineers. They drive technical decisions across product lines and partner closely with propulsion, avionics, manufacturing, and mission assurance leadership to ensure flight‑ready delivery on aggressive timelines. The role is hands‑on enough to maintain technical credibility, but the principal contribution is multiplying the output of the team in a fast‑moving, evolving‑priorities environment.

Responsibilities

• Own end‑to‑end engineering delivery of hardware products - structures, fluid systems, mechanisms, primary structure, avionics enclosures - from concept through manufacturing, qualification, and field support
• Lead, hire, develop, and mentor a team of engineers; set the bar for technical excellence and total ownership across the department
• Define and execute the technical roadmap for the Hardware Development department, balancing flight‑ready execution with the build‑out of containerized, mass‑producible product lines
• Own department headcount, schedule and planning; allocate resources to maximize mission impact per dollar
• Drive design reviews, qualification plans, and risk‑based decision‑making; serve as the senior technical authority on hardware architecture and major trade studies
• Partner cross‑functionally with propulsion, avionics, GNC, manufacturing, supply chain, and test/launch leadership to integrate hardware into flight‑ready systems on aggressive schedules
• Represent Long Wall hardware capabilities to executive leadership, customers, and program partners, including the U.S. Government and allied defense organizations

Basic Qualifications

• Education: B.S. in Mechanical, Aerospace, or related engineering discipline from an accredited university
• Experience: 8–12 years of progressive industry experience in hardware design and development, including direct people‑management responsibility for multiple engineers, disciplines, or sub‑teams

Required Skills And Experience

• Proven track record taking flight or mission‑critical hardware from concept through qualification and field operations in aerospace, defense, or similarly high‑stakes environments
• Direct management of engineering teams with accountability for hiring, performance, and career development
• Ownership of departmental roadmap and investment, with experience making cost/schedule/risk trade‑offs across multiple programs
• Deep technical fluency in mechanical design, structural mechanics, fluid systems, manufacturing processes, GD&T, and DFM/DFA principles
• Strong analytical foundation across hand calculations and FEA/CFD tools (e.g., ANSYS, ABAQUS, NASTRAN); able to challenge analysis and red‑team designs
• Excellent written and verbal communication; able to brief executive leadership, customers, and government stakeholders on technical scope, risk, and progress

Preferred Skills And Experience

• Prior experience as a Head, Director, or Senior Manager of hardware engineering at a launch, missile, satellite, or defense systems company
• Experience scaling a hardware engineering function from prototype to rate production, including the introduction of containerized or mass‑producible designs
• Familiarity with U.S. missile defense, hypersonics, or tactical/strategic deterrent programs and the associated customer environment (MDA, DoD, allied partners)
• Working knowledge of major CAD platforms (NX, CATIA, CREO/Pro‑E) and PLM systems (e.g., Teamcenter, Windchill)
• Demonstrated ability to lead through ambiguity and shifting priorities on aggressive, mission‑driven schedules
• Active or recent U.S. security clearance (Secret or above)

Additional Requirements

• Ability to sit or stand for extended periods of time
• Ability to use a computer to complete assignments
• Ability to communicate with individuals and groups in person, by phone and telepresence
• Ability to lift up to 50 lbs
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee will typically work in an office environment
• Ability to travel between sites as needed by company

$165,000 - $245,000 a year

In Addition To Base Pay And Equity, We Offer

• Heavily employer‑subsidized medical, dental, and vision insurance plans
• Long Wall paid life insurance and LTD coverage
• 4% 401k match
• Student loan repayment assistance program
• Paid parental leave
• Family planning assistance program
• Long Wall paid financial wellness program
• Paid time off for non‑exempt employees and flexible vacation policy for exempt employees

ITAR Requirement

This position requires access to information protected under US export control laws, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations and/or the Export Administration Regulations. As such, US person status (including US citizens, U.S. permanent residents, individuals granted U.S. asylum status, or individuals admitted in U.S. refugee status) is a required qualification for this position.

Equal Opportunity Employer

We are an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, genetics, or citizenship status (when otherwise legally authorized to work and access export‑controlled data) and will not be discriminated against on the basis of such characteristics or any other status protected by the laws or regulations in the locations where we operate. We encourage applicants of all ages.